The last Vespers service of the Dormition Fast was about to begin. This was the Great and Holy Vespers service of Saturday evening before the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As the bells rang announcing the arrival of our Beloved Bishop Maxim, all in attendance were quietly standing awaiting the first blessing he would bestow upon each of us.

As our Bishop venerated the Icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, streaks of sunlight streamed through the open doors in the back of our Church.  No sounds could be heard from outside.  We were all entering into ‘living in the moment’ — of prayer. A most palpable feeling of intense worship descended upon each of us.

Our own Beloved Fr. Dane, began the Vesper service.  Quietly assisting Fr. Dane was our own Reader, Ethan Livingston.  The opening Psalms were chanted by Nicholas Baba and his brother, Nathan Baba, our Guests from Holy Virgin Mary Antiochian Church in West Sacramento.   When Vladika joined in with the prayers, it was apparent the evening was going to be deeply spiritual.   Vladika at the Bishop’s Throne on the right and the Baba brothers on the left – sharing back and forth in Antiphonal style, the prayers progressed heavenward.

All too soon the service was at an end and the Blessing of the Five Loaves was being prayed at the Artos Glasea.  Fr. Dane announced that as we were to come forth to venerate the Icon, we would be each be receiving a portion of bread as well as receive an anointing of Holy Oil by Bishop Maxim.

As we exited the Church, all of us kept remarking on how the feeling of reverence was within each of us.   How ‘holy’ we felt. How quickly the service ended.  How peaceful we were.

All were invited to a light Lenten dinner that had lovingly been prepared for us by the watchful eye of Chef Andja Cvjetkovic and competent staff.  A wonderful way to end a prayerful evening.

Sunday Morning.                                                    

Cars began arriving at 8:30 a.m. for Divine Liturgy.  By 8:45 a.m. the parking lot was filling up with cars.  Out spilled our youth many dressed in Serbian traditional wear.  Flowers started blossoming everywhere! Young people were holding bouquets of welcome for Vladika.  Adults were wearing corsages / boutonnieres.  Everyone was wearing smiles and hugging each other. “Sretna Slava” was on everyone’s lips.  Yes, we had come together to celebrate the Patroness of our Parish, the Blessed Virgin Mary.  ‘The source of life is laid in a tomb and the grave and becomes a ladder to heaven’ (Stikhira at Vespers).

We have once again been blessed to pray, offer the Holy Gifts and Receive the Holy Gifts in Communion – as a Family!  Kresna Slava 2022.

At 9:30 a.m. Vladika Maxim processed to our Church.  He was escorted by Clergy and our Alter Servers.  The children happily greeted him.  As Vladika led all of us who had gathered at the doors into the Church, we realized that the Church was full!  The voices from the Choir loft drifted down and we realized that even there many were in attendance.

The inside of our Church had been lovingly and beautifully decorated in baby blue and white flowers and ribbons in honor our Our Blessed Virgin Mary.  Breath taking in the first glance and appreciated by all, we Thank those whose hands prepared this gift of visual beauty for all of us to share.

The Divine Liturgy proceeded reverently and swiftly.  Serving with Bishop Maxim were our own Fr. Dane Popovic, Fr. William Weir, Fr. Marko Bojovic and Dn. Dragan Stojanovich, both from St. Sava in Jackson.  They were surrounded by several Alter Servers who were respectful and quick to assist.  How wonderful to be part of the witness of the Liturgy.

Standing at the front of our Church were our Kumovi of Slava 2022, Miroslav and Zorica Ilich.  Their joy and reverence were witnessed by all as we prayed together.

The Highlight of each Divine Liturgy is Holy Communion.  With two Priests offering Holy Communion, the lines still wound out the door!  What a beautiful witness for all of us to share in the Lord’s Gift to us.

We processed around the Church offering witness to the world of our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Immediately upon reentering the Church, Vladika Maxim offered a few brief words of encouragement for us to always remember our Patroness and go to her and her Son at all times.

Our delicious luncheon was prepared by MANY HANDS, served by MANY HANDS and enjoyed by all with much relish.  We Thank each and every person who assisted in this undertaking of love and devotion for all of us.  The hall was beautifully decorated and highlighted with a perfect white rose in a lovely bud vase gracing each table.  Naturally, the color theme was again in honor of the Virgin Mary – this time deep blue and bright white.   The many hours in preparation for this was appreciated by all.  Thank you to each person who volunteered in any capacity from hall set up, to decorating, to food preparation, to serving, to cleanup – to assisting in any way!

Our emcee of the day was Fr. Bill Weir.  He noted that all the joy that was witnessed today lent credence to the idea that the Dormition Feast is sometimes referred to as the ‘Summer Pascha’ due to the amount of love displayed for the Virgin Mary.  Everyone agreed that the reverence felt during the Divine Liturgy in the morning lifted everyone’s hearts – thus, the joy was contagious for all of us. It was noted that some anniversary dates were important this weekend.

Our own Vladika Maxim was enthroned as the Bishop of the Western American Diocese on August 27, 2006 – 16th anniversary was yesterday.

Fr. Dane Popovic was at our Slava for the first time in 2002 – 20 years ago today.  He celebrated his first Divine Liturgy with us on September 8, 2002. Fr. William Weir was ordained a Priest in our Church on Slava, August 28, 2008 – 14 years ago.

Our Slava celebration for 2023 will have Barron (John) and Cheri (Ann) Black as our Kumovi.  As we close down 2022, we now look forward to 2023.

We ended the afternoon with music!  No surprise, right?  Our youngest children started.  They were wonderful!  Full of smiles and happiness, they did a lovely performance.  Following was our teen group.  My how they have grown since we last saw them.  Their performance was close to flawless.  Many thanks to the teachers who taught them, to the parents who brought them, to the people who helped them get dressed and ready to perform.  To the dancers – THANK YOU for sharing in your God-given talents.

THANK YOU TO VLADIKA MAXIM FOR HONORING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE.  THANK YOU TO VISITING CLERGY FOR ASSISTING IN OUR CELEBRATION.  THANK YOU TO OUR OWN FR. DANE AND FR. WILLIAM.

THANK YOU TO ALL – NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID TO HELP, REMEMBER, YOU DID IT FOR ALL AND FOR THE LOVE OF OUR BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.  MAY YOU EACH BE BLESSED.  MAY EACH OF YOU KNOW YOU ARE LOVED.

A FINAL TO THANK YOU TO OUR KUMOVI, MIROSLAV AND ZORICA ILICH, FOR SHARING YOUR LOVE AND GOD-BESTOWED BOUNTY WITH US.